To start, the Board should have rejected the move to house BACOG outright, given the unilateral and disrespectful manner in which Abboud promised “his” Village Hall space, free of charge, without first putting the issue to the elected Board or residents.  Of course, no citizen comments were permitted on Abboud’s BACOG giveaway, since public comments are relegated to the end of marathon length meetings and only after trustees have voted.  Not only does this disenfranchise residents, it prevents trustees from knowing residents’ views before they vote.

Abboud also exaggerated by claiming that an immediate economic crisis made the BACOG move to Village Hall emergent, justifying his unilateral promise, and making a rental charge impossible.  The public minutes of BACOG meetings show that the council has been shopping for new office space since at least April 2011.  There was no emergency.  And if BACOG is indeed so strapped for cash, it should consider trimming its bloated legislative agenda and cushy six figure total salary expense for personnel, including Executive Director Janet L. Agnoletti –seated at the right in the photo above, celebrating with Abboud and certain other “COG” members at a prior gathering.  Maybe our tax dollars will pay for the group’s next round of drinks.

Lastly, we hope our readers will see through, much more clearly than Abboud’s trustees, the myth that BACOG’s efforts have preserved five acre zoning in Barrington Hills.  BACOG’s supposed advocacy on this issue has not resulted in any legislative changes to de-annexation laws in Springfield; it has not saved the Village from repeated and costly losses in de-annexation litigation, including the Duda and Iatarola lawsuits; and BACOG has not prevented the loss of hundreds of acres of Village property as a result of these litigation disasters.  This dismal track record speaks for itself, and it belies Abboud’s claim that BACOG has provided “millions of dollars” in benefits to our Village.

BACOG may have an appropriate role.  Its water resource initiative, for example, may be important and valuable.  Although, even the council’s last well testing campaign garnered only a reported 61 samples from the entire BACOG area of seven towns and over 11,000 households.

Let’s be realistic.  Abboud’s gift of rent free office space to BACOG cannot be justified either by BACOG’s supposed economic emergency or its “millions” in value to Barrington Hills.   Message to Bob:  Barrington Hills residents are smarter than that. 

     – The Observer

In the end, the trustees voted to allow BACOG a two-year, rent-free lease with similar lease provisions offered to the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District, which also operates on village-owned land and pays its own expenses but no rent. BACOG officials said they plan to move in by July.”

Read more: http://barrington.suntimes.com/10206301-417/barrington-hills-board-gives-bacog-space-to-settle.html

The board wrestled with legal proceedings surrounding its pending police contract, a proposed 4G connection on the campus and complaints about a resident on the west side of Bateman Road south of Lake Cook cutting down 14 walnut trees without a permit.”

Learn much more at:  http://barrington.suntimes.com/10210378-417/barrington-hills-deals-with-tree-removal-issue.html

Only Trustee Harold “Skip” Gianopulos voted against preparation of a two-year lease agreement to be approved Feb. 24. But Trustee Elaine Ramesh initially favored a $5,000 break in BACOG dues as well in exchange for the village housing the council.

Read more: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120123/news/701239649/

Learn more: http://triblocal.com/barrington/2012/01/23/barrington-police-investigate-alleged-child-abduction-attempt/

• Oakwood Farms Fines
• Friends of Spring Creek Policy
• Video streaming, recording and archiving of village meetings
• BACOG Office Space
• Legislative Platform 2012

Link to agenda: http://www.trumba.com/calendars/village-of-barrington-hills?trumbaEmbed=eventid%3D97902054%26view%3Devent%26-childview%3D&winClose=1

Since 2005, when Bob Abboud first took office, residents’ rights to use and enjoy their properties have diminished with each zoning ordinance that our village government has enacted.  President Abboud often refers to the “Barrington Hills brand,” but it seems he’s shaping the brand as he sees it through more and more restrictive laws.

Many of these ordinances might seem unimportant or even well-intentioned.  But when we examine them as a whole, we begin to see how they specifically direct and limit the way we live our lives.  For example, as of 2005, residents who wish to ride horses on Village trails must purchase a $10.00 license each year and display a tag issued in return for the fee (just the same as Village stickers for vehicles, except the trail tag requirement was never enforced).  And, in the past, private landowners voluntarily offered the use of equestrian trails on their land, but now trails are designated in new subdivisions wherever the Equestrian Commission desires, it seems.

To address the influx of competitive bike clubs into Barrington Hills, an ordinance, enforced by a new police bicycle patrol unit, was enacted.  But it means that now even residents and their children can no longer ride their bicycles side-by-side using Village roads. The burning of yard waste, which has been done for decades with a simple restriction of size, materials and hours of lawful conduct, is now illegal if any resulting soot is carried by unpredictable winds to adjoining properties.

In order to preserve old growth trees, the Village passed a Heritage Tree Ordinance,  which now requires consultation with a landscape professional and a Permit for removal of certain species of trees on private property depending on size and condition.  To regulate target shooting, the Village now restricts the discharge of any “missiles” from air guns, bows or similar devices on private property, to the point of including something as harmless as a dart.

Lastly, there was the proposed “Exterior Lighting Ordinance” that was eventually approved in 2011 in an impotent form after outcry by residents in opposition. Existing construction was spared, but the ordinance will restrict (and potentially diminish) new construction for years to come.

Now, Abboud has re-energized the relatively inactive Legal Committee. On the Committee’s agenda, apparently, is consideration of future ordinances that may restrict how much water residents can use; require private contractors to be licensed by the Village in order to work on our properties (making them more costly); and establish standards for home maintenance.  Discussion of mandatory annual septic inspections have already taken place.  And, don’t forget, our Village now has “whiz bang” optics (see Abboud to Barrington Hills residents: Keep your mouths shut and your window blinds open at all times!)) that can apparently assist in inspecting for code violations within our homes, so residents should hide their dartboards from view.

This raises an obvious question:  with our limited Village staff and no real department for Code Enforcement, who will be performing all the necessary inspections and how will these Ordinances be enforced?

The Observer does not question the need for thoughtful, sound laws.  But many recent ordinances, proposed or enacted, fly in the face of the freedom and privacy that brought many residents to Barrington Hills in the first place.  If President Abboud considers “branding” to be behavioral control ordinances, then he must believe he’s on the right track.  We hope most others will agree that it’s the wrong one.

     – The Observer

The foundation awards Helping Hands grants, up to $500 each, to provide teachers and staff within the District 220 schools with practical supplies and instructional pieces when no other funding source is available. Nineteen grants were awarded.

Read more: http://barrington.suntimes.com/10042787-417/district-220-foundation-awards-grants-to-schools.html

Learn more: http://barrington-il.patch.com/articles/music-on-the-hill-features-piano-cello-duet